Machine for boring post-holes.



' PATENTE'D APR. 21. 1908 R. GUTHRIE, MACHINE FOR BORING'POST HOLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24. 1907- 3 SHEETS-SHEET l No. 885,041. PATENTED APR. 21,.1908.

. R. GUTHRIE.

MACHINE FOR BORING POST HOLES;

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1907.

3 SHEETS--SIIEET 2. F/ 2? News-041.. PATENTEDAPR.21,1908.

{ R.GUTHRIE.

MAOHINBFOR BORING POST HOLES.

APPLICATION FILED 11116.24, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anlfoz ROBERT G U THRIE, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

insomnia non Bonfire POST-HOLES.

no. ss5,o41.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented April 21, 1908.

Application filed August 24, 1907. Serial No. 390,066.

To all whom it may concern: j

Be it known that I, ROBERT Gamma-a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented anew andusefulv Machine for Boring Post-Holes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for digging or boring post holes and has for its object to provide a strong, durable and thoroughly efficient machine of this character especially designed for makih holes or excavations for the reception of telegraph or telephone poles and the like. i v

j A further object of the invention is to provide a machine including a wheeled truck= having an. earth au er'mounted for rotation i thereon and adj usta 1e vertically of the truck thereby toprmitthe auger to ground to any desired depth.

A further object is to provide a sliding carpenetrate the riage having an endless'carrier or conveyer associated therewith and adapted" to receive the earth from the auger and discharge the same at the rear of the truck. j

A further object is to provide a su porting frame upon which is mounted a slit ing carriage and its associated parts, said frame being pivotally connected with the platform of the truck and capable of being swung laterally to inoperative position thereby to permit the true to pass beneath bridges, tele phone wires and other over-head obstructions.

A further object is -to provide amotor" mounted on the platform of the truck and operatively connected with the auger and endless conveyer, respectively for actuatingthe same. i j

A further object is to. provide means for leveling the platform of the truclcand means for adjusting thesliding carriage indepemb ently of the motor.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utllitv, durability and efi1-' ciency- Furthenobjects and advantages will appear in the followingdescription, it being understood that! various changes in form, proportions and minor -'details of construc tion may be resorted to within the scope of the ap ended claims;

In t 1e accompanying drawmgs formin a part of this specification: Figure I is a side elevation of a machine constructed in recordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thesame. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thelower portion of the foot-bracket. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the auger bit detached. Fig. 5 is a top plan view p rtly in section of Fig. 1. .Fig. 6 is a verticggi sectional'vieiv taken on the line 6-6 of ig. 5,

parts of the machine being omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation, one of' the traction wheels being removed to show the manner of gearing the truck with the motor. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in. all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention is preferably mounted. on a truck including the front and rear traction wheels 5 and 6, the bolsters 7 of which are c onnected by spaced longitudinal reach bars 8. ;Mounted above and disposed in spaced relation to the reach bars 8 is a platform 9 having its spaced longitudinal side bars or timbers 10 extending beyond one end of the platform to form anchoring members for a vertically disposed fderriok or support 11 carrying an auger. 12

and an endless elevator or conveyer 13.

The side .bars 14 of the derrick are bolted at .15 and. 16 to supporting brackets 17 secured to the upper and lower lon' itudinal edges of the beams 10, there being aterally extending lugs 18 secured to the brackets. 17 and" adapted to bear against the bars 14 for maintaining said bars in vertical position.

The support or derrick 11 is normally and rigidly supported in vertical position by the fastening devices 15 and 16 but may be moved laterally to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 ofth'e drawings by removing the fastening devices 15, as will be readily understood.

Secured to the bars 14 of the derrick are itudinal strips or guides 19 upon which s idably mounted for vertical movement a rectangular frame or carriage 20. lhe oarriage 20 is provided with vertically alined bearings 21 in whichis mounted for rotation a vertically adjustable auger shaft 22, the latter being secured to and movable With the carriage 20 by means of spaced collars 23 dis osed one on each side of the bearings 21 an engagingthe adjacent cross bars of the carriage frame, as shown. Mounted :1 suitable bearings 24 in the carriage 20 is a transwhen the carriage 20 moves downwardly in gear 48 which engages a pinion 49 on the other suitable source of ower, indicated at 51.

verse shaft provided with spaced sprocket wheels 26 which engage the elevator link belts or chains 27 of the endless conveyer or carrier 13. The lower legs of the chains 27 engage foot sprockets 28 mounted for rotation on suitable foot shafts 29 disposed below the platform 9. One end of each foot shaft 29 1s seated in a collar 30 while the opposite end thereof is jour'naled in the terminal T bearing 31 of a longitudinal bar or pi e 32, the longitudinal bars 32 together witi the foot shafts 29 and loose collar 30 serving as a means for supporti the lower end of the endless conveyer. he up in ends of the bars 32 are provided with e on ated slots 33 for the reception of suitable astening devices 34 which engage the lower transverse beam of the carriage frame so that by adjusting the bars 32 vertically of the carriage the amount of slack in the sprocket chains 27 may be regulatedat will.

Riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the sprocket chains 27 are spaced elevator buckets 35 which serve to receive the earth from the auger 12 and deliver the same into a chute or trough 36 from whence it is discharged at the rear of the machine. The trough 36 is secured to and movable with the carriage 20, said trough being fastened in position on the carriage by suitable brackets 37.

The upper end of the auger shaft 22 is journaled in a bearing 38 on the derrick frame and is provided with a beveled gear 39. which meshes with a'correspondingly beveled gear 40 carried by a stub shaft 41. The shaft 22 is ke ed to the beveled ear 39 but is free to sli e longitudinally 0 said gear the act of making a hole or excavation.

The stub shaft 41 is disposed at ri ht angles to the auger shaft 22 and is provi ed with spaced sprocket wheels 42 and 43 one of which is connected through the medium of a link beltorchain 44 with a sprocket wheel 45 46. The shaft 46 is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings 47 secured to the platform of the truck and is provided with a master driving shaft 50 of a gas engine, motor or ,Seeured to the plat orm 9 in advance of the engine 51. are spaced brackets 52 in which is f-journaled an auxiliary or drum shaft 53 carrying a gear wheel 54 which meshes with a pinion 55 on the counter shaft 46 so that motion may be transmitted from the shaft 46 to the shaft 41 for the purpose l'iereinafter referred to. Keyed or otherwise rigidly se- "spacer cured to the shaft 53 is a winding drum 55 to which are secured spaced ro es or cables 56 which pass over suitable pulleys or sheaves- 57 mounted on a transverse shaft 58 on the upper portion of the derrick and thence extend downwardly for attachment to thcl carriage 20 so that when the drum 55' is re"- tated the carriage20 together with the auger shaft may be adjusted vertically of the frame.

Mounted on the shaft 46 is a clutch 59 of any approved construction and which serves to connect the gear wheel 54 with the pinion 55 when it is desired to raise or lower the carria e.

fiis osed in advance of the bracket are standards 60 having their upper ends inclined or beveledat 61 to form supports for the side bars 14 of the derrick frame when said derrick is swung laterally to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, said standards or supports being reinforced and strengthened by diagonal braces 62 which connect the standards with the brackets 17, 'asshown.

Journaled in bearings 63 on the standards 60 is a transverse shaft having one end thereof provided with a winding head 64 while the opposite end thereof is provided with a in ion 65 which meshes with the gear whee 54 so that when the clutch 59 is operated to disconnect the gear wheel 54 from the pinion 55 on the shaft 46 the drum 55 may be rotated to raise and lower thecarriage independently of the motor, this result being accomplished by rotating the winding head with a suitable wrench provided for this purpose.

Connecting the upper portion of the derrick with the 66 to one of w ich is secured an idle sprocket wheel 67 adapted to engage the sprocket chain 44 so as to maintain the latter under the desired tension. The u per ends of the inclined braces 66 are detaciiably secured to the side bars 14 of the derrick by bolts or similar fastening devices 68 so that by removing said fastening devices the derrick may be swilng laterall into enga ement with the inclined ends of t e standaln s 60, in the manner before described. i

As a means for rotating the endless conveyer 13 there is provided a link belt or chain 69 which passes over the sprocket wheel 43 and thence extends downwardly over the idle sprocket wheel 70 at the bottom of the machine and thence upwardly over a corresponding idle sprocket wheel 71 for engagement with a sprocket wheel 72 secured to the transverse shaft 25 of the carriage from whence it passes u wardly to the sprocket wheel 43, as best Sl IOWII in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The idle sprocket wheel 71 is secured to and movable with the carriage 20 while the lower idle sprocket wheel 70 is relatively stationary so that motion may be imparted to the elevator chains 27 regardless of the position of the carriage 20 on the derrick.

platform 9 are diagonal braces i face or the platform 75 of said auger rom conveyer so as to permit free movement of the s rocket chain 69 without with the buckets of the conveyer.

. Secured to the lower end of the auger shaft 22 is an auger bit provided with one or more downwardly inclined shares or wings 74 vwhich. low into the earth when the auger is rotated and deliver the earth on the u per whence it is taken up by the buckets of the. conveyer and delivered tqfthe discharge chute 36. The auger bit is provided with a terminal screw point 76 While the lower face of the platform of saidbit is provided with spaced depending cutting knives 'orblades77 which govern the size and shape of the hole or excavation to be formed in the ground.

As a means for leveling the platformto'per- "mit the machine to'be operated on Thu h uneven ground, said platform is provider with a plurality of adjusting leveling screws 78 36- ground.

'1 79 secured to the longitudinal wrench-or other suitable tool, said screws may be adjusted to tilt the platform at any angle or inclination with reference to the In order to support the platform in in- 'clined position there are provided suitable tension rods 83, preferably six in number, one

end of each of the intermediate rods of which is secured to acentral transverse beam 84 while the opposite ends thereof are-secured to the bolster of'the wheeled truck. The-side rods 83 preferably extend from the bolsters to the longitudinal bars or timbers 10, as

shown, The rods 83are provided with turn buckles 85 which may be adjusted'on the rods'83v so as to maintain the desired inclination.

'Mounted on the front portion of theplatform is a gasolene tank 85 and a cooling tank- 86 of anyra'pproved construction for supplying fuel to the gasengine there'being a tube 87 depending from the bottom'of the platform beneath the gas engine or motor and constitutinga muffler.

From the fore oing description it will be seen that when t e motor is started motion will be transmitted through theme'di-um of the sprocket chain 44 to the shaft 41 and thence through the medium of the sprocket. 69 to the endless conveyer 13, the beveled gear 40 at the same time engaging the gear i and imparting motion to the au er shaft The clutch 59being actuater to disconnect the gear 54 from engagement with interfering platform at the the pinion 55 the carriage 20 is free to travel .downwardly by its own weight as the depth As the auger-bit is rov of the hole increases. tated the earth will be taken up by thecom veyer and delivered to the chute 36 from whenceit will be discharged at the rear oflthe machine. After the boring'operation iscom drum 55 thereby to wind the cable 56 on said drum and elevate the carriage, so as-to Withdraw the auger and endless conveyer from the hole or excavation. When transferring tening device 15 of the bracket 17 isremov'ed' and the derrick swung bodily to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings plated the clutch 46 is actuated to rotate the i the truck fronrplace to place the lower fas- :1

and in which position it will be supported .1 upon theinclined faces'61 of the standards, 1

in the manner before stated.

V The truck. is provided with a tongue 88 for attachment to one or more draft animals'but if desired, the wheels of the truck may be con that the motor-may be used for propelling the truck, as best shown in Fig. 7 of thedrawin s. 4

. rom the foregoing description it is :nected with the motor on the platform so" thought that the construction and operation of the. device will be readily understood :by those skilled in the art and further description thereof. is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention; what i is claimed is: j 1. A machine of the class described i11 eluding atruck, a derrick pivotally mounted on the truck and adapted to be swung downwardly to inoperative position, a carriage slidably mounted on the derrick, a vertically adjustable auger movable with the carriage, a conveyer cooperating with the auger and means for supporting the derrick in operative position, 2. A machine of the class described including a truck, a derrick secured to one end of the truck, a carriage slidably mountedon the derrick, an-auger jour'naled on the carriage and movable with the latter,.a conveyor; suspended from the carriage, and means for simultaneously rotating the conveyermand auger. i r

3.-A machine of the class describeddneluding a truck, a derrick secured to'one 'end' of the truck, a carriage slidably mounted on the derrick, an auger mounted for rotation on the carriage, an endless conveyer carriedby said carriage, means for raising and lowering said carriage, and means for rotating the auger and conveyer, respectively.

4. A machine of the class described ineludinga truck, a derrick secured to one end of the truck, a carriagemounted for-vertical movement on the derrick, an auger ournaled on and movable with the carriage, a discharge chute carried by the carriage,- an endless conveyer for dehvermg earth to the chute,

L I I I means for raising and lower-mg the carriage,

- and means for o crating the"auger and conveyer, respective y.

5. A machine of the class described including a truck, a derrick pivotally mounted on the truck and adapted to be swung downforming a rest for the derrick when the latter is in inoperative position. i

6. A machine of the class described including a truck, brackets secured to the truck and provided with stop lugs, a derrick pivotally mounted between said brackets and adapted to engage the sto lugs, said derrick being arranged to swing ownwardly to inoperative position, a carriage mounted on the derrick, an auger journaled on and movable with the carriage, a conveyor coo crating with the auger, means for operating t e auger and conveyer, respectively, and means for supporting the derrick in inoperative osition.

7. A machine of the class descri ed including' a truck having a'platform, brackets secured to the up or and lower faces of the platform and eac provided with a laterally extending stop lug, a derrick pivotally mounted between the brackets and adapted to be swung downwardly to ino erative position, means for supportin the errick'in vertical osition, a carriage s idably mounted on the errick, an auger movable with the carria e, a conveyer cooperating with the auger, an supports secured to the platform and having lnclined terminals adapted to engage the derrick when the latter is in inoperative position:

8. A machine of the class described including a truck, a derrick carriedby the truck, a carriage slidably mounted on the derrick, a transverse shaft dis os'ed at the lower end of the derrick, an endlbss conveyer connecting the shaft and carriage, an auger movable with the carriage, means for rotating the auger and conveyer, respectively, and means i for raising and lowering the carriage.

9. A machine of the class descrlbed including a truck, a derrick secured to the truck, a carriage slidably mounted on the derrick, an

auger movable with the carria e, an endless conveyer cooperating with t e auger, a winding drum, ai'cable connecting the drum with the carriage for raising and-lowering the latter, a motor for rotatingthe drum, and means operatively connected with the auger and conveyor, respectively,-and actuated y the motor for'rotating the same.

10. A machine of the class described including a truck, a derrick secured to the truck, a carnage slidably mounted on the derrick, an auger journaled on and movable with the carriage, a conveyor cooperating with the au' er, a motor 0 eratively connected with t e conveyer and auger, res ectively for actuatin the same, a win ing drum operable by the motor, a connection between the drum and the carriage for elevating "the latter, and means for rotating the drum independently of the motor.

11. A machine of the class described including a truck having a tilting platform, a derrick secured to the platform, a carriage slidably mounted on the derrick, an auger carried 'bythe carriage, a conveyer coiiperating-with the auger, a motor, and means connecting the motor with the auger and conveyer, respectively for actuating the same.

12. A machine of the class described including a truck having bolsters, a platform mounted for tilting movement above the bolsters, a derrick secured to one end of the platform, a carriage mounted. for vertical movement on the derrick, an auger mounted for rotation on the carriage and movable with the latter, an endless convey-er cooperating with the auger, a motor operatively connected with the auger and conveyer,

respectively, for operating the same, and

means carried by the platform and adapted I to engage the bolsters for tilting said platform.

13. A machine of the class described in cluding a truck havin bolsters, a latform disposed above the b0 sters, threa ed castings secured to the platform, adjusting screws engaging the threads on the castings and bearing against the bolsters for tilting said latform, and means for locking the platorm in adjusted position.

14. A machine of the class described including a truck having bolsters, a tilting platform disposed above the bolsters, a derrick secured to one end of the platform, a carriage mounted for vertical movement on the derrick, an auger carried by the carriage and movable with the latter, a conveyer co- 0 crating with the auger, a motor secured to t e platform of the truck for operating the auger and conveyor, respectively, means for raising and lowering the carriage, and adjust-' ing screws carried by the platform and engaging the bolsters for tilting said platform.

15. A machine of the class described including a truck having bolsters, a platform mounted for tilting movement on the bol stars, a derrick secured to one end of the plat form, a carriage mounted for sliding movement on the derrick, an auger carriedby the carriage, and endless conveyor (:06 'erating with the au er, a motor 9 eratively connected with t e conveyer an auger, respectively, for o erating the same, adjusting screws carrie by theplatform and bearing against the bolsters for tilting the platform, and adjustable brace rods forming a connec-.

ticn between the bolsters and latform for supporting the platform in tiltet position.

16. A machine of the class described including a truck, a derrick secured to one end of the truck and provided'with spaced l ns, a carriage slidably mounted between the bars and provided with a transverse shaft, a plurality of sprocket \vheeis mounted on said shaft, a hanger adjustable vertically of the carriage and provided with a transverse foot shaft, sprocket wheels secured to, the loot shaft, sprocket chains engaging thesprocln-t,

wheels on thefoot shaft and carriage shaft, respectively, conveyor buckets secured to the sprocket chains, an auger mounted for rotation on the carriage, means forrotating the auger, and means for rotating the transverse shaft of the carriage.

17. A machine of the class described in-' cluding a truck, a derrick secured to one end of the truck, a stub shaft mounted for rotation on the upper end of the derrick and provided with spaced sprocket wheels, a carriage adjustable vertically of the derrick and ro'- I vided with a transverse shaft, a sprocketw eel secured to the transverse shaft, a foot shaft provided with spaced sprockets, sprocket chains connecting the sprocket wheels on the transverse and foot shafts and provided with conveyor buckets, a connection between one of tlie sprocket Wheels on the stub shaft and adjacent sprocket on the transverse shaft of the carriage for rotating the conve 'er, an auger having a beveled gear slidab ymounted thereon, a beveled gear carried by the stub shaft and engaging the beveled. gear on the auger, a motor, and a sprocket chain connecting the motor and one of the s rocket Wheels on the stub shaft for rotating t e auger. 7

1.8. A machine of the class described including a truck, a derrick secured to one end of the truck. a carriage mounted for sliding movement on the derrick.spaced bars adjustable vertically of the carriage and having their lower ends connected b v a foot shaft, a collar carried by the foot shaft. an mger shaft mounted for rotation on the carriage and extending through the collar of the loot sl 1al't.,a conveyer connecting the foot shaft and carriage, and means for operating the auger and conveyer. respectively.

19. A. machine of the class described including a truck. a derrick pivotally mounted on the truck and movable laterally to inoperative position, a carriage slidably mounted on the derrick, a hanger depending from the carriage and comprising spaced bars the upper ends of which are slottedand the lower ends thereof connected by a transverse foot shaft, a collar carried by the foot shaft, an anger shaft mounted for rotation on the carriage and extending through the-collar of the foot shaft, an endless conveyer connecting the foot shaft and carriage, means for rotating the auger and endless conveyer, respectively, means for supporting the derrick in vertical position, and means for supporting the derrick in inoperative position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

ROBERT GU'llIltlE.

Witnesses:

R. SPRINGER, T. J. DUNN. 

